Guide to the Annie Wells Photographs
Maureen Carey, Kate Dundon
University of California, Santa Cruz
2018
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz 95064
speccoll@library.ucsc.edu
Contributing Institution:
University of California, Santa Cruz
Title: Annie Wells Photographs
Creator:
Wells, Annie
Identifier/Call Number: MS.200
Physical Description:
12 Linear Feet
7 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1988-1997
Physical Description: The majority of the
photographs are color, 11x14 inches, dry-mounted and matted, with an overall size of 16x20
inches. Some photogrpahs are 16x20 inches dry-mounted and matted, with an overall size of
20x30 inches. Includes some black and white photographs.
Language of Material:
English
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights for this collection reside with the University of California. Literary
rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. The publication
or use of any work protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use for research or
educational purposes requires written permission from the copyright owner. Responsibility
for obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user. For more
information on copyright or to order a reproduction, please visit
guides.library.ucsc.edu/speccoll/reproduction-publication.
Preferred Citation
Annie Wells Photographs MS 200. Special Collections and Archives, University Library,
University of California, Santa Cruz.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Acquired from Annie Wells.
Biographical / Historical
Annie Wells is photographer known for her photojournalism work at the Los Angeles Times,
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, and the San Francisco bureau Associated Press. Wells won the
1997 Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography for her photograph of fire fighter Don Lopez
rescuing 15-year-old Marglyn Paseka from the flooded Matanzas Creek in Sonoma County,
California. Wells received a B.A. from University of California Santa Cruz in science
writing, and studied photojournalism at San Francisco State University. Her work is part of
the permanent collection in the National Museum of Women in the Arts.
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of photographs from Annie Well's professional career in
photojournalism.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into six series:
Series 1: Children Harvesting Grapes
Series 2: Nutcracker Dreams
Series 3: Quinceañera Celebration
Series 4: Alliance Medical Clinic
Series 5: A Death without Fear
Series 6: Features and News
Processing Information
Description of photographs and series provided by Annie Wells.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Los Angeles times
Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, Calif.)
Photojournalism
Children Harvesting Grapes
Scope and Contents
Children pitch in with adults as families harvest grapes in the Sonoma County wine
country. They rise at 5am and begin picking at first light. They pick grapes from leafy
vines clothing them in obscurity. Cars whiz by and bicyclists pedal by, oblivious to the
grape pickers in a sea of vines on a ranch in Santa Rosa, CA.
Box 1
"Children Harvesting Grapes" 4-11
1989 October 1
Scope and Contents
Griselda Gudina, 11 and Ana Maria Licea, 12 cousins and best friends play tetherball
before they begin their morning of grape picking in a Santa Rosa, Ca. vineyard.
Box 1
"Children Harvesting Grapes" 4-2
1989 October 1
Scope and Contents
Vincente Figueroa, 4, trots after older children as they go out into the vineyards to
begin their morning of harvesting.
Box 1
"Children Harvesting Grapes"
1989 October 1
Scope and Contents
With the grapevines covering her like a tent, Griselda Guidino, 11, wiggles her 60
pound body to position for reaping the fruit.
Box 1
"Children Harvesting Grapes" 4-3
1989 October 1
Scope and Contents
Vincente Figueroa, 4, with his grape picking knife. He carries a small bucket around
the fields. He is not expected to pick, but his mother gives him 25 cents for every
bucket he fills with grapes.
Box 1
"Children Harvesting Grapes" 4-5
1989 October 1
Scope and Contents
Michael Sanchez, 5, right and Vincente Figueroa, 4, are distracted from the grape
harvest by a caterpillar.
Box 1
"Children Harvesting Grapes" 4-6
1989 October 1
Scope and Contents
Families gather in the middle of the vines around noon for lunch. A bare piece of
wood burns to heat chicken in sauce, eggs scrambled with bacon, corn tortillas and
beans.
Box 1
"Children Harvesting Grapes" 4-7
1989 October 1
Scope and Contents
Ana Maria Licea, 12, left, and Griselda Guidino, 11, relax after lunch before they go
back out into the fields for another several hours of work.
Nutcracker Dreams
Scope and Contents
A behind the scenes look at the Redwood Empire Ballet preparing for their annual
presentation of the Nutcracker.
Box 2
"Nutcracker Dreams" 1-1
1992
Scope and Contents
Young ballerinas line up at the barre awaiting their turns to audition in the Lincoln
Arts Center, home of the Redwood Empire Ballet, 1992.
Box 2
"Nutcracker Dreams" 1-2
1992
Scope and Contents
Natasha Lopez, 9, who plays a small soldier in the fight scene, receives instruction
from staging director Danny Furlong.
Box 2
"Nutcracker Dreams" 1-3
1992
Scope and Contents
Staging director Danny Furlong watches Kirk Spillane practice his part as the Mouse
King.
Package 1
"Nutcracker Dreams" 1-4
1992
Scope and Contents
"Nutcracker" ballerina Leslie Nichols, left, discovers that a snowflake costume
doesn't fit as Berkelee Lowrey-Evans laughs. In back, Katie Rosenfeld looks for a
costume.
Box 2
"Nutcracker Dreams" 1-5
1992
Scope and Contents
Danielle Harget tests her wings after finding an angel costume that fits.
Package 1
"Nutcracker Dreams" 1-6
1992
Scope and Contents
Dancer Alexandria Lopez waits in the costume fitting room with her mothers
Box 2
"Nutcracker Dreams" 1-7
1992
Scope and Contents
Left to right: Berkelee Lowrey-Evans, Cassandra Lopez and Alexandria Lopez wait in
the wings and watch Murial Maffree, the Sugar Plum Fairy and a principal dancer with
the San Francisco Ballet, before they take the stage. The performances were held at
the Luther Burbank Center for the Performing Arts.
Package 1
"Nutcracker Dreams" 1-8
1992
Scope and Contents
Muriel Maffree, principal dancer with the San Francisco Ballet, dances her role as
the Sugar Plum Fairy while Katherine Rosenfeld, left and Berkelee Lowrey-Evans watch
during a dress rehearsal at the Burbank Center for the Arts.
Package 1
"Nutcracker Dreams" 1-9
1992
Scope and Contents
On opening night, Kim Bainbridge fixes her hair while Kirk Spillane, in Mother Ginger
makeup, teases her. In back, Mandra Meyers gets ready.
Box 2
"Nutcracker Dreams" 1-10
1992
Scope and Contents
Issa Joachim, right, makes her entrance during the snow scene while Katherine
Rosenfeld dances by on stage during the opening night performance.
Box 2
"Nutcracker Dreams" 1-11
1992
Scope and Contents
Nancy Dobbs-Owen performs the part of the Snow Queen on opening night
Quinceañera Celebration
Scope and Contents
Best friends Noemi Mendez and Vicki Huerta celebrate a centuries-old coming-of-age
celebration for fifteen-year-old girls.
Box 3
"Quinceañera Celebration" 3-1
1994 December
Box 3
"Quinceañera Celebration"
1994 December
Box 3
"Quinceañera Celebration" 3-2
1994 December
Box 3
"Quinceañera Celebration" 3-5
1994 December
Box 3
"Quinceañera Celebration" 3-6
1994 December
Box 3
"Quinceañera Celebration" 3-7
1994 December
Box 3
"Quinceañera Celebration" 3-8
1994 December
Box 3
"Quinceañera Celebration" 3-9
1994 December
Box 3
"Quinceañera Celebration" 3-10
1994 December
Scope and Contents
The girl's mothers, Maria Mendez, left and Aurora Huerta sweep up at the end of the
night.
Box 3
"Quinceañera Celebration" 3-11
1994 December
Scope and Contents
Noemi looks around the barren Sebastopol Veterans Memorial Building at the end of the
celebration that was months in the making.
Alliance Medical Center
Scope and Contents
These photos were taken at the request of Alliance Medical Center in Healdsburg, CA for
fundraising. Alliance is a community clinic that serves the poor. The majority of their
clients are farm laborers and their families.
Box 4
"Alliance Medical Clinic" 5-1
1995 January 25
Scope and Contents
Miguel Moreno waits for his family outside Alliance Medical Clinic in Healdsburg,
CA
Box 4
"Alliance Medical Clinic" 5-2
1995 January 25
Scope and Contents
Families wait in the crowded lobby of Alliance Medical Center, Healdsburg, CA
Box 4
"Alliance Medical Clinic" 5-3
1995 January 25
Scope and Contents
Jose Luis Bermuda, 7, watches as his mother Irene Gonzales has blood drawn.
Box 4
"Alliance Medical Clinic" 5-4
1995 January 25
Scope and Contents
Staff member Maru Cano holds Penelope Zamora, 5 mos. as Julia Diaz, Medical Assistant
talks to Penelope.
Box 4
"Alliance Medical Clinic" 5-5
1995 January 25
Scope and Contents
Irene Cornona waits for her appointment by the clinic hallway where Physicians
Assistant Richard Coshnear reviews patient records.
Box 4
"Alliance Medical Clinic" 5-6
1995 January 25
Scope and Contents
Irene Corona breathes as Dr. Steve Sheerin listens to her lungs during an exam.
Box 4
"Alliance Medical Clinic" 5-7
1995 January 25
Scope and Contents
Herman Solano, 7 mos., looks to his mother Isidra Solano as physician's assistant
Richard Coshnear examines him because of a chronic fever and cough
A Death Without Fear
Scope and Contents
Michele Moser, with pancreatic cancer, plans her death and funeral with help from the
Natural Death Project.
Package 1
"A Death Without Fear" 2-1
1997
Scope and Contents
Michele Moser receives a Reiki treatment from Janelle Melvin, right and Jerri Lyons,
of the Natural Death Project. "If it goes as I've planned, I'll pass over with friends
and family touching me. Just special people," says Michele.
Package 1
"A Death Without Fear" 2-2
1997
Scope and Contents
Michele sits in her living room as Janelle Melvin, right, and Jerri Lyons deliver the
cardboard box in which Michele will be cremated. Michele, who practices an ancient
Egyptian religion, called the box her sarcophagus.
Box 5
"A Death Without Fear" 2-3
1997
Scope and Contents
Michele hugs Jerri Lyons, goodbye after their first meeting to discuss Michele's
funeral.
Box 5
"A Death Without Fear" 2-4
1997
Scope and Contents
Michele sits in her living room as Jerri Lyons, center and Janelle Melvin show her
husband Brad Moser a scrapbook of photos from other funerals.
Box 5
"A Death Without Fear" 2-5
1997
Scope and Contents
Brad Moser, Michele's husband, sits with a scrapbook of funeral. Jerri Lyons and
Janelle Melvin give Michele a Reiki treatment.
Box 5
"A Death Without Fear" 2-6
1997
Scope and Contents
Michele plays with her 10-month-old granddaughter, Robin Fettig, several weeks before
her death.
Box 5
"A Death Without Fear" 2-7
1997
Scope and Contents
A friend applies makeup to Michele just hours after her death. Husband Brad Moser
observed, "Isn't it amazing what happens when you've lost the pain?"
Box 5
"A Death Without Fear" 2-8
1997
Scope and Contents
In preparation for guests in their home, Brad vacuums his wife's room the afternoon
after her death. Michele requested to lie in state in their home and was laid on a bed
of ice in her cardboard sarcophagus.
Box 5
"A Death Without Fear" 2-9
1997
Scope and Contents
To add a light note, friend Sally Raspberry, left, puts glitter on Jerri Lyons' face
before Michele memorial service.
Package 1
"A Death Without Fear" 2-10
1997
Scope and Contents
Minister and friend, Barbara Champlain ends the "Celebration of Michele's soul and
spirit" by playing a wooden flute. A Multi-denominational memorial ceremony was held
in a redwood grove on the Moser's property.
Package 1
"A Death Without Fear" 2-11
1997
Scope and Contents
Michele's body is dressed in a black velvet dress that she chose to be cremated in.
She was adorned with rose petals and jewels by friends paying their last respects. Her
fingernails, as always, were painted purple.
Box 5
"A Death Without Fear" 2-12
1997
Scope and Contents
Friends, from left, Jerri Lyons, Janelle Melvin and Anna Macias look on while Brad
and Michele's daughter Toni Fettig position her sarcophagus in a van for the ride to
the crematorium.
Box 5
"A Death Without Fear" 2-13
1997
Scope and Contents
Jerri Lyons hugs Toni Fettig at the Santa Rosa Memorial park moments after leaving
Michele's body in the refrigerated building behind them, The connection was now
broken, and this was the first time that Michele's friends, husband and daughter
openly wept.
Box 6
"News, Sports, Features" 6-02
1996 February 4
Scope and Contents
Janet Paseka holds onto Santa Rosa, California police officer Sgt. Tim Senkir as
rescuers save her daughter Marglyn's life.
Box 6
"News, Sports, Features" 9
1991 November 25
Scope and Contents
Rock impresario Bill Graham's helicopter dangles from a high power transmission tower
on the rainy night it crashed along Highway 37 near Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma,
California. Graham, his long-time companion Melissa Gold and pilot Steve Kahn were
killed instantly. They were flying from a Huey Lewis and the News concert in Concord,
California to Graham's home in Marin County.
Box 6
"News, Sports, Features" 10
1991 November 25
Scope and Contents
Maggie Green holds one of her twins, Laura, 5 months, in front of the children's Bell
Tower on the day the memorial was dedicated to the Green's son, Nicholas, in Bodega
Bay, California. Nicholas, at the age of 7, was slain by bandits while traveling with
his family in Italy in 1994. Nicholas and his family became beloved heroes in Italy
and the world when Nicholas' organs were donated and saved the lives of seven
Italians.
Box 6
"News, Sports, Features" 11
1993 February
Scope and Contents
At least 30 million discarded tires are heaped in steel-belted mountains across the
State of California. These unsightly monuments to Californians' love affair with the
automobile pose a growing fire hazard as they pile up in ever-larger numbers. Marino
Mendoza is dwarfed by a pile of tires as he tosses old treads to be baled at Chuck
Royster's tire dump near Tracy, California. Royster estimates he has six million tires
stockpiled there.
Box 6
"News, Sports, Features" 12
1996 February 10
Scope and Contents
Paramedic Rick Smith comforts 5 month-old Christopher, a passenger in the blue car
when it crashed into a building in Santa Rosa, California.
Box 6
"News, Sports, Features" 13
1993 December 5
Scope and Contents
After a 66 day search, the body of 12 year old Polly Klass was found in a shallow
grave beside Highway 101 in Cloverdale, California. Investigators look underneath the
piece of plywood used to cover her body.
Box 6
"News, Sports, Features" 14
1991 March
Scope and Contents
Penngrove, California firefighters carry a man in medical distress from an E Clampus
Vitus club initiation rite. E Clampus Vitus is an all male organization founded during
the California Gold Rush in 1857. The "Clampers" are known for parties at historical
sites where they install plaques. The group in Penngrove to celebrate its history.
Box 6
"Features" 15-2
1996
Scope and Contents
Holly Kyle, 56, left, and Sally Pola, 60, help Flora Randolph, 79, with her hairpiece
before practice.
Box 6
"Features" 17
1990
Scope and Contents
It's the "Elvis is everywhere at the Sonoma County Fair Photo Opportunity," where
dozens of Elvis fans held up--well--Elvisfans. Holding the paper fans-like-masks, the
fair audience became a hoard of Elvises.
Box 6
"Features" 19
1994
Scope and Contents
Mick Jagger at Oakland Coliseum Arena during the Rolling Stones tour in 1994.
Box 7
"Features" 20
1988
Scope and Contents
Marilyn Laubhan leads her arthritis water exercise class through a full range of
motions at the Greeley, Colorado recreation center pool.
Box 7
"Features" 21
1992
Scope and Contents
Peter Rowinsky, 18, said, "There's a single quote from Emerson, 'Whosoever would be a
man must be a nonconformist.' That's really the core of my life."
Box 7
"Features" 22
undated
Scope and Contents
Elaine Parkington and her daughter Cali, 15, under a bridge in Santa Rosa, California
where they used to live. "My mom is everybody's mother," says Cali. "She's given away
her own blankets to keep somebody else's kid warm."
Box 7
"Features" 23
1990
Scope and Contents
Edmond Cooper, top, and Ashley Blade work on their ballet moves while practising in
the main auditorium for the first performance in the new Dorothy Rohnert Spreckels
Performing Arts Center in Rohnert Park, California.
Box 7
"Features" 24
1988
Scope and Contents
Brad Payton, right was hired as director at Ellipse Care Center in Redwood City,
California. The only nursing home in the state for people with AIDS.
The sun was hot, the air cool and the sky clear blue. It was a day when Californians
are certain that there is no other place on earth they would want to live. Brad was
tired of doing paper work again. Everyone was napping or content and it was time to do
something that he had put off for awhile. Michael had died two weeks before. Brad
needed to go through the belongings Michael's family had left behind. Brad went to the
back to the nursing home and emptied the contents of a plastic garbage bag on the
floor. He knelt among clothes, a briefcase, photographs, a painting and some stuffed
animals. This was Brad's time to say goodbye to Michael. He slowly and carefully
separated the things they could use at Ellipse. He packed the rest into a tattered
suitcase to throw away. The back door opened and flooded Brad with warm sunshine and
cool air as nursing assistants wheeled James through the door. James had been in the
yard enjoying the day. In two weeks, James would be dead and once again Brad would
have to find a way to say good-bye.
Box 7
"Features" 25
1990 March
Scope and Contents
Andy Azevedo, 17, rests with his girlfriend Alex Porrata after receiving chemotherapy
at a hospital in Santa Rosa, California. In the background his mother Marilyn, left,
aunt Maureen Rouager and sister Cheryl Azavedo keep a vigil in his room. Andy died on
June 20, 1991.
Box 7
"Sports" 26
1994 July 10
Scope and Contents
Sweden goalie Thomas Ravelli dives to make a save on the first penalty shot by
romania during Sweden's victory in the World cup quarterfinals at Stanford Stadium,
Palo Alto, California.
Box 7
"Sports" 27
1992 April 24
Scope and Contents
The Golden State Warriors' Chris Mullin, center gets caught in a tangle of arms with
Seattle Supersonics' Tony Brown, left, and Gary Payton. Mullin came away with the ball
in a win in the second game of a playoff series.
Box 7
Unidentified photograph of ostrich
undated
map-case C-3, Folder 2
"Swimmers"
undated
Scope and Contents
Includes two posters
map-case C-3, Folder 3
"Russian River Rescue"
1997